Australians memorialize bushfire victims
Australians memorialize bushfire victims
07 February 2010
published by www.upi.com
Australia — About 2,000 people gathered Sunday in Melbourne for a memorial service for 173 people who died in the Black Saturday bushfires that engulfed Victoria in 2009.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, Victorian Premier John Brumby, Governor-General Quentin Bryce and Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott were at the interfaith service at St Paul’s Cathedral to remember those who died in what Rudd described as the worst natural disaster in Australia’s history, the Daily Mail reported.
“Our son was killed by the bushfires, and our memories and our house was destroyed. We lost our past, our present and our future. To all those who have lost your homes, your businesses, your pets, your memories; we feel your pain,” said Carol Matthews one of the bereaved.
Police are searching for people allegedly responsible for setting a number of the fires in Victoria, the Mail reported. The fires destroyed more than 2,000 homes and businesses.
“We’re progressing — we do have leads and time is not a factor with us,” Detective Superintendent Paul Hollowood, said. “Whatever it takes to actually bring people before the courts, to hold them to account for these types of acts, we’ll take that time.”
Sunday was declared a National Day of Mourning. Flags were ordered lowered to half-staff and people were asked to observe a minute of silence at mid-day, the Australian Broadcasting Corp. said.
